View source for The resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

==The resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.==
<p><em>For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, (I Corinthians 15:3,4) </em></p>
<p>The selecting of the Church from among the peoples of the earth. </p>
<p><em>But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (I Peter 2:9) </em></p>
<p>Teaching the Christians to war against sin. </p>
<p><em>For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. (Romans 8:13) </em></p>
<p>The creation of the Firstfruits of the Church. </p>
<p><em>Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. </em></p>
<p>The casting of Satan down to the earth. </p>
<p><em>The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. (Revelation 12:9) </em></p>
<p>The resurrection of the Firstfruits of the Church. </p>
<p><em>For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. (I Thessalonians 4:16) </em></p>
<p>Christ leads the armies of saints and angels against the armies of Antichrist. </p>
<p><em>I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. (Revelation 19:11) </em></p>
<p>Antichrist and the False Prophet are thrown into the Lake of Fire. </p>
<p><em>But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed the signs on its behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. (Revelation 19:20) </em></p>
<p>One angel throws Satan into the Abyss. </p>
<p><em>He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time. (Revelation 20:3) </em></p>
<p>Christ leads His armies against the works of Antichrist in the earth. </p>
<p><em>The Lord thunders at the head of his army; his forces are beyond number, and mighty is the army that obeys his command. The day of the Lord is great; it is dreadful. (Joel 2:11) </em></p>
<p>Christ and His Firstfruits govern the nations of the earth for 1,000 years. </p>
<p><em>To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— that one "will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery"—just as I have received authority from my Father. (Revelation 2:26,27) </em></p>
<p>The remainder of the Church, who were not of the Firstfruits, will come to maturity during the thousand years. </p>
<p><em>To the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect. </em></p>
<p>After the thousand years, Satan will be released from the Abyss. </p>
<p><em>When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—and to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. (Revelation 20:7,8) </em></p>
<p>God destroys the rebels. </p>
<p><em>They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God's people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. (Revelation 20:9) </em></p>
<p>Satan is thrown into the Lake of Fire. </p>
<p><em>And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (Revelation 20:10) </em></p>
<p>The final resurrection and judgment take place. </p>
<p><em>And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. (Revelation 20:12) </em></p>
<p>The Royal Priesthood, God's elect, the Church, the eternal dwelling place of God and Christ, will govern, teach, and bless the "sheep" drawn from the nations, and their offspring, for eternity. </p>
<p><em>And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. (Revelation 21:3) </em></p>
<p>Thus God's Word through Daniel has come to pass. </p>
<p><em>Seventy "sevens" are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy Place. (Daniel 9:24) </em></p>
<p><strong>If You Want Christ to Be Formed in You </strong></p>
Be sure that you have a time and place in prayer each day, if at all possible.
<p>Read some in the Scriptures each day and ask God to speak to you from His Word. </p>
<p>Make sure that you obey Christ strictly in every detail. There should be no area in your life in which you disobey Christ. </p>
<p>If at all possible, gather with fervent believers on a regular basis. </p>
<p>Seek Christ for ministries and gifts of the Spirit; and give them a prominent place in your life. </p>
<p>Do not marry an unbeliever. Do not have fellowship with unrighteous people unless God has indicated you should do so. </p>
<p>Do not neglect or make an idol of your talent and abilities. Be faithful in the use of them as God leads. </p>
<p>God put you and me on the earth to learn about Him. Do not follow the path of pleasure but of obedience to Christ, whether it is pleasant or painful. </p>
<p>Do not attend a fellowship that is given to parties and social interaction. Rather, gather with those who are serious and dedicated to Christ's Kingdom. </p>
<p>Avoid being called an apostle or prophet. Rather be clothed with humility and let your actions speak for themselves. </p>
<p>Ask God to give you His desires. </p>
<p>Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow the Lamb wherever He goes. </p>
<p>If there is something you want terribly badly, pray until you can take it or leave it. </p>
<p>Never try to use the Holy Spirit. Never pray to the Holy Spirit. He is a Member of the Godhead. The Father gives the Spirit to those who obey Him. </p>
<p>Look carefully for Jesus' will at all times. Do not make your own plans and walk by the light of your own fires. </p>
<p>Do not attempt to prophesy when you have a burning desire. The word will be warped. </p>
<p>Avoid romantic spirits. They are of the fallen, adamic nature. They are soft, temporary, weak, silly, sexual,, often impractical. The spiritual experience is stern, hard, enduring. </p>
<p>Rome wasn't built in a day. Christ will not be formed in you in some dramatic experience, but after years of cross-carrying obedience. </p>
<p>Deny yourself, take up your cross of deferred desire, and follow the Lamb patiently. </p>
<p>Life consists of a number of details. Each detail must be committed to the Lord Jesus Christ in order to gain His wisdom, strength, and energy. </p>
<p>Your goal is to be conformed to the image of the Lord Jesus in personality and behavior, and to be at rest in the center of God's Person and will. </p>

[[Sermons WOR]]